After my review of Fate/Zero‘s opening episodes over at UK-A I was a bit shocked at how opinion on Google+ was so critical of the storytelling approach, to the point where I felt I was in the minority who didn’t mind it. I know it doesn’t appeal to everyone: squinting at reams of subtitled dialogue in an infodump opener and wading through thick waves of exposition from that point on isn’t everyone’s grail of mead, but still.
It’s just that this is closer to how I’d imagine a Nasu adaptation to be (yes, I know Urobuchi did the legwork) so quite frankly the idiosyncracies go with the territory. Introducing a cast of this size, especially considering the relationships and connections involved, was never going to be a painless exercise for the viewer, in any case.
I can’t help but admire Ufotable for putting a figurative sign up at the door reading, “this is how we roll. If you don’t like it, you can sod off.” Perhaps it’s my memories of Yamaguchi’s dumbed-down domestic comedy sapping the dramatic weight from the Fate/Stay Night TV episodes; perhaps it’s the way Fate/Zero’s artwork, Kajiura OST and demanding narrative remind me of Kara no Kyoukai (which had planted an image in my head of how the Nasuverse ought to be animated). Or maybe I just like to see TV writers being uncompromising and having faith in their audience.
The thing is, I expect Type Moon stories to be dark, heavy-going and challenging. Although they have a cult following their output in general is an acquired taste – to my mind, the Fate franchise is about as light and accessible as it gets (with the exception of Carnival Phantasm, obviously).
Caster’s introduction to Uryuu for instance was gruesome and chilling: we see the meeting of two sociopaths, and it’s quickly obvious that yes, both are batshit insane and yes, this is bad news for pretty much everyone concerned. As a foreshadowing of Heaven’s Feel, it’s inevitable that we are shown Sakura going through unimaginable suffering and Zouken as another manipulative sicko too.
I’m not saying that it’s all angst, mind…I think even I’d find it too much to handle if it was. Take Rin’s Adventure episode for instance: they might as well have called it The Rin Fanboys’ Shameless Filler Episode but for all that, I actually welcomed the brief diversion. Although certain aspects of what makes her older character awesome are absent (because she’s, y’know, a kid), she’s fundamentally the same likeable, outspoken badass and as filler episodes go it was a very bearable break from the main plotline.
Speaking of likeable, outspoken badassery, Rider is probably the the most significant character who stops the entire venture being bogged down. Sure, he’s amusing enough but his comic aspects never outshine his admirable ones. Simply put, the guy is the life and soul of the party.
Iskander was, in life, a remarkable and larger-than-life figure of great charisma. The way he’s portrayed here – a mixture of Brian Blessed and King Leonidas in the movie adaptation of 300 – is far more theatrical than the real life Alexander would have been but it makes a convincing case for why history looks so fondly on him. It’s also an absolute blast to watch.
Perhaps as a nod to his up-front, direct approach to problem-solving explified in the legend of the Gordian Knot, the eleventh episode’s meeting begins with Rider turning up unannounced at the Einzburn castle…not to fight exactly, but certainly to address important issues head on.
Wrapping sincere convictions and a shrewd ability to weigh up his opponent behind a veneer of comedic bluster is a hugely entertaining way to present a character like this; it also eases the progress of a very dry and dialogue-heavy segment of the story. As a matter of fact, I’ve got into the habit of pouring myself a beer every saturday evening for my weekly dose of Fate/Zero…and Rider clearly sees the advantages of a good drink too.
The Fate route of the original VN goes into a lot of depth about Saber’s background, motives, strengths and weaknesses; here, Rider’s criticisms of her methods and aims in the Grail war were scathing, but contained elements of truth nonetheless. Her wish is a noble one on one hand, but is an insult to the courage and hard work of her and those who stood by her during her lifetime on the other.
I can understand Rider’s disappointment. He turned up to talk to two people who may be the only ones in the world who see it has he does, he brought a barrel of the best drink he can find to break the ice…only to find one of them has a classier stash of booze and the other opponent he respected so much is driven by what is, in his eyes, a misguided ideal. Rider’s wish is more, well, human than hers but even back when I was reading the VN I couldn’t help but think, “seriously, Saber, you deserved better than this.”
From Rider’s point of view it doesn’t make her much of a worthy adversary for his own gargantuan ambitions, and from the viewer’s it’s frustrating because she’s letting herself down when you consider what she put herself through to become a legendary hero in the first place. Fundamentally, those qualities are what made her the legendary hero…there are plenty of good-but-not-great monarchs who never reach mythical status, after all.
Fate’s portrayal of Arturia is that of a tragic figure and a slave to her role while Iskander’s approach was to place the king before the country; I suspect the best leadership figure exists between the two extremes of selfless martyr and selfish tyrant, but Rider does make a good case for his own philosophy. Arturia was an incomplete leader in that sense, having the fighting skills and the dedication to do the right thing but falling short of becoming the inspirational focus of her idealogy during her own lifetime. Iskander may not have put his subjects’ interests first but he did understand how important a king’s public face is in the eyes of those who serve him.
In your dreams, pal
Gilgamesh is, in my opinion, relatively straightforward and therefore not as interesting as a character. His scheming is fun to follow but as a character he lacks Saber’s inner conflict and contradictions, and doesn’t have Rider’s infectious charm either (he was very adept at talking Kotomine round in episode 12 though). Since he serves nothing but his own agenda, he’s less like Kotomine and Tokiomi Tohsaka and doesn’t really have time for playing along with everyone else.
Overall Fate/Zero occupies a peculiar position in the Type Moon canon in that anyone who’s familiar with the F/S N story has a pretty good idea about where it’s going to end. Its main purpose then is filling in the gaps and bringing the narrative up to the present; the idea of making decisions and shaking off the shackles of what’s pre-decided formed a central theme in the original, so the looming sense of inevitability in Fate/Zero gives it a different spin that’s quite refreshing.
As with the pic at the top of the post, we already know that, sadly, This Will Not End Well
The issue of the deliberate pacing remains – it feels like it’s still warming up and will save the real shocks for the second half. To my shame, I’ll still find it in myself to forgive it for that. Since the thirteenth outing will be up on Nico Nico Douga when I’m back with the family, my weekly ‘Fate/Zero and beer’ routine will be interrupted and I might have an excuse to finish reading the translation of the novel instead. Fancy that.
On that note, apologies for the sporadic update schedule this year…I’ve not had the time or energy to throw into the community as much as I used to sadly, but if I don’t get the chance before the end of the month I’d like to thank my remaining readership for coming back and wish you all a Merry Christmas and epic 2012. As always, it’s been a pleasure.
